SHOW BIZ

WASHINGTON — National Public Radio will receive approximately $36 million in grant money to operate the nation’s public radio interconnection system under the terms of a court settlement with the federal government’s steward of funding for public broadcasting stations.

The settlement, announced Monday, partially resolves a legal dispute in which NPR accused the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of bowing to pressure from President Trump to cut off its funding.

On March 25, Trump said at a news conference that he would “love to” defund NPR and PBS because he believes they are biased in favor of Democrats.

NPR accused the CPB of violating its 1st Amendment free speech rights when it moved to cut off its access to grant money appropriated by Congress. NPR also claims Trump, a Republican, wants to punish it for the content of its journalism.

On April 2, the CPB’s board initially approved a three-year, roughly $36-million extension of a grant for NPR to operate the “interconnection” satellite system for public radio. NPR has been operating and managing the Public Radio Satellite System since 1985.

But corporation officials reversed course and announced that the federal funds would go to an entity called Public Media Infrastructure. NPR claimed the CPB was under mounting pressure from the Trump administration when the agency redirected the money to PMI, a media coalition that didn’t exist and wasn’t statutorily authorized to receive the funds.

CPB attorneys denied that the agency retaliated against NPR to appease Trump. They had argued that NPR’s claims are factually and legally meritless.

On May 1, Trump issued an executive order that called for federal agencies to stop funding for NPR and PBS. The settlement doesn’t end a lawsuit in which NPR seeks to block any implementation or enforcement of Trump’s executive order. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss is scheduled to preside over another hearing for the case on Dec. 4.

The settlement says NPR and CPB agree that the executive order is unconstitutional and that CPB won’t enforce it unless a court orders it to do so.

NPR, meanwhile, agreed to drop its request for a court order blocking CPB from disbursing funds to PMI under a separate grant agreement.

Katherine Maher, NPR’s president and CEO, said the settlement is “a victory for editorial independence and a step toward upholding the 1st Amendment rights of NPR and the public media system.”

Patricia Harrison, the corporation’s CEO, said CPB is pleased that the litigation is over “and that our investment in the future through PMI marks an exciting new era for public media.”

On Aug. 1, CPB announced it would take steps toward closing itself down after being defunded by Congress.

Kunzelman writes for the Associated Press.

KATHERINE Jenkins and Jessie J led the glam and tonight’s glitzy Royal Variety Performance.

The classical singer looked typically stunning in a Union Jack dress with a floaty cape, while Jessie was demure in a chic black outfit.

Blonde bombshell Katherine beamed on the red carpet, proudly showing off her patriotic frock inside the Royal Albert Hall.

Jessie was a vision, looking strong after a difficult year that has seen her have surgeries after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She will sing her new track “I’ll never know why” later in the night.

It was a who’s who of entertainers inside the iconic venue, with the talented guestlist dressing to the nines.

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Westlife‘s Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne were dapper in black suits, while Tom Fletcher swapped his rock ‘n’ roll tour outfits for a smart suit.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor and his wife Sarina Potgieter put on a loved-up display on the carpet, while ska legends Madness, led by frontman Suggs, were in fine form.

Evening host Jason Manford waved and looked ready to lead the showbiz spectacular, following on from Amanda Holden and Alan Carr last year.

Celebrity Traitors star Stephen Fry was back in more familiar territory after his brush with the hit BBC gameshow up in Scotland.

Adrian Stoica and his dog Hurricane, from America’s Got Talent, brought some sparkle to the occasion, with Adam rocking a pink sequin blazer.

Royal couple Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William joined proceedings, arriving together and looking excited for a night of entertainment.

Catherine looked incredible in a velvet green dress and large sparkling earrings.

It is the first event they’ve attended together since Kate’s cancer diagnosis, and marks their sixth time at the entertainment showpiece in total.

The evening will feature an exclusive performance by the cast of Paddington The Musical.

Meanwhile in celebration of the show’s 40th anniversary there will be a performance from the West End and Paris casts of Les Misérables.

This will include a star studded lineup with Michael Ball, Matt Lucas and Killian Donnelly all performing.

ITV will air the show next month.

Last year, the King watched the star-studded show by himself because Queen Camilla was forced to pull out at the last minute due to illness.

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The San Antonio man accused of fatally shooting his neighbor Jonathan Joss, the actor best known for his voice work on animated series “King of the Hill,” faces a murder charge.

A grand jury in Bexar County, Texas, on Monday indicted 57-year-old Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez on a single felony count of first-degree murder, according to legal records reviewed by The Times. Legal representatives for Alvarez did not immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday.

Alvarez was indicted more than five months after police arrested him on suspicion of murder in connection to the fatal shooting. Officers responded to the 200 block of Dorsey Street on the evening of June 1, where they found Joss near the roadway, according to an incident report. The report initially identified Alvarez as “Sigfredo Alvarez Ceja” and said the incident occurred on the 200 block of “Dorsey Dr.”

First responders “attempted life saving measures” until EMS officers arrived, police said. The actor, who also appeared in “Parks and Recreation,” was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 59.

Though police did not disclose details about the events that led to the shooting, Joss’ husband Tristan Kern de Gonzales alleged in a Facebook post that he and Joss suffered “openly homophobic” harassment and threats prior to the fatal shooting, which he claimed was also motivated by homophobia.

At the time, Gonzales wrote that he and Joss had returned to the site of the actor’s San Antonio home — which had burned down in January — to check their mail. The actor had also lost three dogs in the fire. Gonzalez alleged that a man approached them, “started yelling violent homophobic slurs” and “raised a gun from his lap and fired.”

He said Joss pushed him out of the way, saving his life, and added that his husband “was murdered by someone who could not stand the sight of two men loving each other.”

Police disputed Gonzales’ claims, writing in a tweet that “the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that Mr. Joss’ murder was related to his sexual orientation.” In a separate tweet shared in June, police said investigators “handle these allegations very seriously.”

In “King of the Hill,” Joss voiced John Redcorn, protagonist Hank Hill’s neighbor. He recorded lines for the series’ revival prior to his death. His TV credits also include “Tulsa King,” “Ray Donovan,” “Friday Night Lights,” “ER” and “Charmed.”

A Coronation Street icon is set to return to the famous ITV cobbles this festive period after making an emotional exit exactly a year ago

Coronation Street fans are set for the dramatic return of a legend of the cobbles this Christmas. And it will mark exactly a year since they initially left.

Former mainstay Gail Chadwick is set for a return during the festive special. It will mark a year since the star, played by Helen Worth, married Jesse Chadwick and headed for a new life in France.

Fans of the ITV show were devastated by her exit after a long-running stint on the soap, spanning back to 1974. And now, she is set for a one-off appearance, which is sure to delight the show’s avid viewers.

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Details are still being kept close to the chests of producers. However a TV insider has said she could be about to connect with her family again for the festive period.

The source told The Sun: “It could be more timely as the Platts find themselves in yet another drama, one that they’ve had to deal with by themselves since the Platts’ matriarch moved abroad.”

They continued: “It’s a move which is guaranteed to thrill soap fans, who wondered whether we’d ever catch a glimpse of show favourite Gail on the cobbles again.”

Helen, 73, bowed out from the soap as Gail last year after an astonishing 50 year. She told viewers she’d been part of “the most wonderful show in the world“.

Since making her debut in Corrie 50 years ago the actress has been involved in an array of hard-hitting and juicy storylines. Her biggest lines have involved murders, steamy affairs and the perennial drama surrounding her three kids, Nick (Ben Price), Sarah and David.

When she finally left her role, Helen posted a message on social media to thanks her fans and their long-time support. She said at the time: “There’ll be more Platt stories, and I hope you’ll be watching.”

In a statement announcing her exit, she said: “This year felt like the perfect time to leave the show after celebrating 50 years in the most wonderful job on the most wonderful street in the world.

“I made the decision at the start of the year and spoke to the producers, who were very kind and understanding.”

In the build-up to Christmas, fans are set to watch dark scenes for Todd Grimshaw next week. It comes as his abusive partner Theo Silverton takes action against him once again.

The scenes result in a character outside of the relationship becoming suspicious which leads to a falling out. Later, Todd accuses Theo of rail-roading him into doing a half marathon.

However, Theo claims to him that it’s for his own good and they’ll be going for another run later as part of their training.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

MANY celebs these days are pretty boring and spend their nights drinking matcha tea with LED masks strapped to their faces rather than falling out of clubs after a booze- filled night.

But Leonardo DiCaprio is bucking the clean-living trend and is busy proving he is still one of Hollywood’s most hardcore partiers.

One of my Mayfair moles told me the Titanic actor headed to posh members-only club Annabel’s in London on Tuesday night, after appearing at the BFI Southbank to talk about his new action ­comedy film, One Battle After Another.

Leo partied with his best pal Tobey Maguire until the early hours.

“Leo came in to Annabel’s and ­settled in for a big night with his mate,” my insider said.

“ He’d been at the BFI on the Southbank and came for a private dinner.

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“It coincided with their Christmas light switch on which was really special.

“Alexandra Burke performed and it was an amazing evening.

“Leo and Tobey got food as well and, as you’d expect, there were plenty of female fans hanging around to enjoy a drink with them.

“They absolutely love Leo at Annabel’s because he’s a big spender and a nice guy — there’s never any trouble and he’s really low-key.

“He stayed until around 12;30am ­yesterday before leaving with Tobey.”

After One Battle After Another came out in September, Leo is now waiting on the green light for his next big movie role.

He is being lined up to star in Michael Mann’s sequel to 1995 cult classic Heat.

Leo is said to be in the frame to take the role of Chris Shiherlis, who was played by Val Kilmer in the original.

Christian Bale is now in talks to come on board too, with the final cast yet to be ­confirmed.

Heat is one of my all-time favourite films but to this day I still scream in frustration about why Robert De Niro‘s master criminal Neil McCauley chose to scupper his own escape by ­stopping off to kill the evil Waingro.

You should have gone straight to the plane, Neil. You fool.

ROSIE’S LAID BACK STYLE

IT’S little wonder Rosalia needed a lie-down on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon – because she had to try to teach him how to sing.

The Spanish star, whose new album Lux reached No4 in the charts last Friday, warned US host Jimmy that “some songs are harder than others” before she got him to have a bash at singing her hit La Perla.

To put it kindly, Rosalia had her work cut out with Jimmy’s vocals, but luckily for her fans she then got up on stage to give her own rather more tuneful performance of the song.

Fans will next see Rosalia on screen in the third season of teen drama Euphoria.

She kept schtum about which part she will be taking on but opened up about juggling the recording of Lux with filming the hit HBO series.

Rosalia said: “I had to divide my mind between both, and it was the first time, also, that I was doing something like this – preparing a character and studying lines.

“These are new things for me. It’s very different from making an album and making music.”

POSH’S SPICY CRUZ TRACK

I THOUGHT hell would freeze over before I saw Victoria Beckham singing a Spice Girls song again, but it seems her son Cruz’s passion for music is ­rubbing off on her.

The fledgling musician posted a video on Instagram yesterday playing the guitar and singing the girl group’s 1998 No1 Viva Forever – duetting with his make-up-free mum, Posh.

And props to Victoria, she sounded pretty good during the jam session in their living room, although I wasn’t quite as keen when husband DAVID joined in with some falsetto backing vocals.

He commented on the video: “Sorry, I ruined it.”

I can’t help but feel like this is a clue, after months of discussions that the Spice Girls will do something together to mark their 30th ­anniversary in 2026.

Last month, Victoria even said the idea of a residency at Las Vegas venue Sphere was “tempting”.

The vocal cords are warmed up, so shout when you’re ready to Spice Up Your Life, Posh.

ACE MYLES BASTILLES THE SHOW

BASTILLE brought their From All Sides tour to an end with a massive show at London’s O2 Arena, where they were joined on stage by one of my ­favourite stars of 2025, Luton-born Myles Smith.

The band, celebrating 15 years together, played their 2012 hit Flaws with Myles amid a mighty set which saw them play tracks covering their entire career.

Emotional frontman Dan Smith told the crowd: “It’s f***ing mental that we’re allowed to play here.

“We’ve been away for a ­couple of years and it’s very surreal being back up on this stage.”

Bastille played ten dates across the country and debuted their new single Save My Soul, ahead of its release tomorrow.

It’s been a while since their last proper album, so I’m ­hoping they’ll get back in the studio soon to get the next one done.

ZAYN: I’M JUST LIKE EMINEM

ZAYN MALIK has revealed he practised singing Mario’s Let Me Love You for a whole year before auditioning for The X Factor.

The former One Direction star spoke to BBC Radio 1 in a special interview last night, which you can listen back to now on BBC Sounds.

During the chat, Zayn said: “I listened to this a lot around the time when I was first starting to sing. Probably around 15 or 16, I started taking it more seriously.

“I practised that song for about a year before I went on X Factor and sang that as my first audition song.

“It has a near and dear place in my heart. It is the song that changed my life.”

Bradford-born Zayn also said he felt a synergy with Eminem and compared his life growing up in the north to the US rapper’s tough upbringing in Detroit.

Zayn added: “I remember watching Eight Mile for the first time when I was growing up in Bradford and that movie inspired me.

“It felt like he was growing up in a similar environment to me. The things he overcame and did were incredibly inspiring.

“Eminem will always be one of the top rappers in my book.”

YUNGBLUD IS BOY FOR ME

YUNGBLUD has been forced by ­doctors to pull the plug on touring until the end of the year, after concerns were raised about voice issues and blood test results.

But that means the star has plenty of time to read the script for a new biopic about Boy George‘s life.

George’s manager, Paul Kemsley, has told us that Doncaster-born Yungblud is the Culture Club singer’s first choice to play him.

Speaking at the launch of reality star Mauricio Umansky’s new ­collaboration with clothing brand Ari, Paul said: “Yungblud is the man that we want to play George, and George wants him too. We have told the film company that is our plan.

“We hope to have cameras filming at some point next year.

“Yungblud can really capture the essence of George, ­especially as a young man, and show the world what a trailblazer he was.”

Yungblud has previously said he’s keen to take on the role, so if their schedules can align, he could soon be on set.

He’s had a stellar year, with a No1 album and Grammy nominations, so it’s little wonder Boy George is keen to sign him.

THE season of goodwill is almost here and Ed Sheeran is one of the first celebs out of the blocks to spread festive cheer.

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The Shape Of You singer’s hot sauce brand Tingly Ted’s has teamed up with Hungry Horse to offer 5,000 free meals.

The chain is hosting a “Bear Hunt”, with beer mats featuring the Tingly Ted bear logo and a special QR code.

Vin Diesel will not face further litigation in Los Angeles in the sexual battery lawsuit a former assistant filed against the “Fast & Furious” star two years ago.

An L.A. County Superior Court judge on Wednesday dismissed the complaint from Diesel’s accuser, Asta Jonasson, citing a technicality.

Jonasson said in her lawsuit, filed in December 2023, that she served as Diesel’s assistant in 2010 during the filming of “Fast Five” in Atlanta and alleged the actor sexually assaulted her in a hotel room.

Her lawsuit raised 10 claims, including sexual battery, retaliation and multiple violations of California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act. The complaint also sought action against Diesel’s One Race Films production company and its president, Samantha Vincent, Diesel’s sister.

Judge Daniel M. Crowley called Jonasson’s argument “untenable” and in conflict with the intention of the state’s legal code in his dismissal document. Also, since the sexual assault is alleged to have happened in Georgia, the judge said California was not the right jurisdiction in which to file the complaint.

Crowley said that California law could not be “applied to any of Plaintiff’s claims.”

The case was set to go to trial in February prior to Wednesday’s decision. Jonasson’s attorney Matthew T. Hale said in a statement Wednesday that “the Court did not decide anything about the truth of Ms. Jonasson’s allegations.”

“The ruling was based on a legal technicality,” Hale said. “We disagree with the ruling, and we are assessing next steps.”

A legal representative for Diesel did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

In her complaint, Jonasson alleged Diesel groped her, pinned her to a wall and put her hand on his genitals without her consent during the hotel room encounter. The 58-year-old actor, through attorney Bryan Freedman, denied the allegations shortly after Jonasson filed her complaint.

“This is the first he has ever heard about this more than 13-year-old claim made by a purportedly nine-day employee,” Freedman said. “There is clear evidence which completely refutes these outlandish allegations.”

Associate Editor Tom Bryant was given a tour of the jungle where he was shown a super-exclusive treehouse totally hidden from view……where the new latecomers will cause chaos

Nestled in the trees high above the I’m A Celebrity camp is a slice of luxury that the contestants are totally oblivious to. Ever since the ten campmates were ushered into the Jungle, producers have kept the brand new structure completely camouflaged and out of view.

In fact it was so secret, after seeing it last week, I was banned from even mentioning its existence until now.

But with the arrival of Vogue Williams and Tom Read Wilson, the treehouse – called The Leader’s Lodge – will suddenly reveal itself. And I can confidently predict all hell will break loose.

I was given an exclusive tour of the Lodge where Vogue and Tom will live as the new leaders of the camp.They will look down – literally – on the campmates, who will be at their beck and call all day.

Not only that, but Vogue and Tom – dubbed “chief explorers of a bush explorers’ club” – will be living in luxury by comparison. They will have their own private dunny, comfy beds…and the views. Oh the views. The jungle is beautiful at the best of times. But from their vantage point, it’s extra special.

To further inflame their subjects, they will have a tannoy to summon them….

Insiders have dubbed the treehouse a “psychological experiment”. One said: “They will be looking down on their subjects….its’s going to inflame.”

As exec producer Olly Nash told me: “The two of them will arrive with a bang, and will be controlling everything that the camp do. They will control their lives, control what they are doing, and control what chores they do. The campmates will compete to get badges, but they have to impress the chief explorers to do so. It’s going to be brutal.”

Campmates….you’ve been warned..

So who are the two new latecomers?

The Mirror sat down with both Vogue Williams and Celebs Go Dating star Tom Read Wilson as they prepare to enter the jungle on Thursday.

And Vogue admits she likes the idea of playing the game like a certain hit BBC show. “I would not mind causing a bit of mischief, a bit like Traitors vibes,” she laughs. “I don’t want to annoy anyone, but I think I am very much willing to go along with the game.”

Tom is set to ruffle some feathers too…..as he admitted he was distraught about a booze ban.

“I do have a penchant for champagne, and as it is quite a naughty tipple, I confine it to the weekend,” he said. “So it is just going to feel like a very, very long week. I will never usually have a coupe of anything until Friday.”

Insiders have called the both “genius casting.” One mole said: “They are both a lot of fun – and will bring the energy to the camp and then some.”

COMMUTERS in London were left stunned after they spotted a Brit comedy legend mid-rant on the Tube.

He was seen directing his emotion towards a to TikTok star as the pair travelled the Bakerloo Line on the London Underground.

One social media user uploaded their antics to social media with the caption: “Simulation on the morning commute today.”

It saw comedian Chabuddy G, real name Asim Chaudhry, brandish an Oyster card as a microphone whole sitting on the brown Tube line’s iconic printed seats.

He stunned passers by – and Subway Takes’ Kareem Rahma who was sitting alongside him – as he said: “It’s not all about length, it’s about girth,” before doing a hand gesture to represent his point.

Dressed in a khaki jacket in sunglasses he continued to seeingly reference someone’s manhood as he added: “Like that big.”

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The People Just Do Nothing star, who appeared to be filming a segment for the viral series, rounded off the clip and said: “Thank you very much.”

Meanwhile Kareem, who was holding his own Oyster card as his microphone, was in stitches following the chat.

He wore a grey jacket and brown corduroy trousers as he slouched back for the latest Subway Takes chat.

After the clip was uploaded to TikTok, user feuxlikefiya wrote: “Chabbudy g on subway takes before I’ve had my morning coffee.”

One user was quick to reply: “Subway Takes have gone downhill they’ve got Kareem on the Bakerloo Line.”

Another added: “Average Bakerloo Line experience,” as a third put: “Man said they came London.”

A fan then mused: “Not the Bakerloo Line.”

One then joked: “The fact you were acc on the tube fr.”

Kareem is co-founder of the internet talk show, with the star generally using a MetroCard with a microphone tagged on to chat to Americans on the Subway.

The show quizzed guests about their favourite hot take – yet one episode was filmed and promptly deleted, according to the host.

KAMALA’S CHAT

In July, we reported how Kareem had claimed a chat with Kamala Harris prior to the US election was so “weird” it had to be erased.

He revealed he sat down with Kamala in summer last year, just months before November’s election.

He told Forbes in an interview posted to TikTok: “Her take was really confusing and weird, not good, and so [we] mutually agreed we shouldn’t publish it.”

Kareem claims the Democratic Party reached out to him to say that Kamala and Tim Walz, her vice-president running partner, were “really interested” in being on the show.

The presenter said he got “lucky”, because he “didn’t want to be blamed for her losing”.

Doubling down, Kareem said Kamala’s take was “really, really bad, and it didn’t make any sense”.

Finally putting viewers out of their misery, he revealed that Kamala’s take was “bacon as a spice”.

Kareem is a Muslim, meaning he can’t eat pork-based products and has never eaten bacon – making it a particularly odd choice for Kamala to go with.

Kareem previously showed footage of the awkward encounter to the New York Times – which reported he was “taken aback” by Kamala’s statement.

Harris’s campaign reportedly apologised for the blunder and offered to re-film the episode, but Kareem declined.

Kareem previously said his main reason for not airing the interview was because he didn’t want to upset the Muslim community by spending air time on trivial matters when something as serious as the Israel-Hamas war was ongoing.

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He said: “It was so complicated because I’m Muslim and there’s something going on in the world that 100% of Muslims care about.

“And then they made it worse by talking about anchovies. Boring!”

The “Harry Potter” wand has been passed.

Daniel Radcliffe, who portrayed the boy who lived in the Wizarding World’s original film series, said on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday that he had reached out to new “Harry Potter” actor Dominic McLaughlin — no owls required.

“I know a few people working on the production, so I wrote to Dominic,” said Radcliffe, who appeared on the morning show to promote his return to Broadway in “Every Brilliant Thing.” “I sent him a letter and he sent me a very sweet note back.”

The new “Harry Potter” series is currently filming in the U.K. McLaughlin stars as the eponymous orphan who learns about his magical heritage after he receives his acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout will portray Harry’s best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, respectively.

Radcliffe said he hopes the young actors are “having a great time” and that seeing their pictures made him “just want to hug them.”

“I don’t want to be a specter in the life of these children at all,” Radcliffe said. “I just wanted to write to him and say, ‘I hope you have the best time and an even better time than I did. I had a great time, but I hope you have an even better one.’”

Radcliffe starred in all eight films of the first film series, starting with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001) through “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2” (2011). His golden Gryffindor trio included Emma Watson as the muggle-born bookworm Hermione and Rupert Grint as the loyal but sometimes insensitive Ron.

Written and executive produced by Francesca Gardiner, the new “Harry Potter” HBO series has been billed as “a faithful adaptation” of the popular seven-book series by author J.K. Rowling, who serves as an executive producer. Multiple episodes will be directed by executive producer Mark Mylod.

The cast of the new show includes returning “Harry Potter” actor Warwick Davis, who will be reprising his role as Professor Filius Flitwick. Joining him on the Hogwarts staff are John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore); Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid); Paapa Essiedu (Severus Snape); Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall); Sirine Saba (Pomona Sprout); Richard Durden (Cuthbert Binns); Bríd Brennan (Poppy Pomfrey); Luke Thallon (Quirinus Quirrell); and Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch).

Clarkson’s Farm has been popular with viewers since it first aired back in 2021 on Prime Video.

For the last four years, fans of Prime Video have been engrossed in Jeremy Clarkson’s exploits as he navigates the challenges of running Diddly Squat Farm on his popular show. This follows a recent heartfelt announcement from the presenter.

Clarkson’s Farm quickly became a fan favourite when it debuted in 2021, with viewers captivated by the comedic hurdles and blunders the former Top Gear host encountered while trying to run his Cotswolds farm.

Throughout his journey, Jeremy has been assisted by a cast of characters including Kaleb Cooper, Charlie Ireland, Gerald Cooper, Harriet Cowan and his partner Lisa Hogan, all of whom have become beloved figures on the show.

However, Jeremy’s long-time producer Andy Wilman revealed that the presenter didn’t believe he would ever have another hit after leaving the BBC motoring programme.

Speaking on Wednesday’s episode of The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X, Andy confessed that they never anticipated the success of the show, reports Gloucestershire Live.

He said: “That was absolutely out of the blue. Jeremy never thought he was going to have another hit, you know? We were done.”

As Dominic Byrne praised the quality of the show, Andy explained that they had an agreement with Amazon for Grand Tours which required them to continue working, leading to individual projects.

He added: “Jeremy went, ‘I want to do life on my farm.’ And if I had a quid for every exec who rang me and went, ‘Can you talk him out of that?'”

Admitting he rang the TV personality to explain that nobody fancied him doing a programme about farm life, Jeremy confessed he couldn’t fault people for attempting to dissuade Andy from it.

Andy revealed that Jeremy was anxious as he reckoned it might be ‘the most boring thing’, but the personalities on Clarkson’s Farm made a massive difference to its triumph.

He added: “We didn’t see that cast coming.”

Thanks to Clarkson’s Farm’s popularity, it’s led to Kaleb securing his own show which he’s presently shooting in Australia.

The fresh four-part series on Prime Video will witness the TV personality exchange Chipping Norton for existence down under.

Discussing the forthcoming programme, he said: “I spend most of my time with the most travelled man in the world, so I got brave and booked my first ever flight to see what all the fuss was about. Australia here I come!

“And Australia, you’ll be gaining a new farmer for a couple of months as I discover if I can make my farming contracting business go international.”

Clarkson’s Farm is available to watch on Prime Video. Tune into The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X weekdays from 6:30am – 10am and on Global Player

ADAM Peaty and Holly Ramsay have broken their silence on a bitter family feud, insisting “we don’t want sympathy”.

Tonight, the Olympian, 30, took to social media and accused his family of “encouraging” false claims about him and his fiancée.

Adam said his wife-to-be Holly, 25, and his sister Bethany had both been “targeted” and “hurt” by the drama, which now involves police.

It reads: “Over the past few days, a lot has been reported and comments posted about the private life of Holly and myself.

“My sister Bethany, has also been targeted. This has been almost entirely one-sided and, in many cases, excessive and intrusive. It has been deeply hurtful and upsetting to read, especially given the false basis upon which we have been targeted.

“What makes it worse is that it has been encouraged by members of my family.”

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The champion swimmer assured fans there were two sides to the story and insisted he only has good intentions.

It follows claims that he has changed since meeting Holly and becoming part of the Ramsay clan, distancing himself from his working class roots.

He continued: “Bethany, Holly and myself cannot go into detail given an ongoing police investigation into serious matters that arose long before recent events.

“For those who know me personally, you know that I work so hard on trying to improve myself as a person who wants to contribute to making the world a better place. I am continuing to learn about myself and how I can be the man I want to be; a worthy partner, father, businessman, friend and athlete; even through these challenging times.

“Bethany, Holly and I will get through this – we do not ask for sympathy. We just need people to be aware that there are always two sides to every story. To those of you who have reached out and shown kindness and understanding – thank you. It is deeply appreciated.”

Adam’s aunt Louise previously branded his fiancée Holly “divisive and hurtful” in a bitter online rant after her sister Caroline wasn’t invited to her hen do at Soho Farmhouse. Caroline was later banned from the couple’s wedding at Bath Abbey next month.

Bethany attended the hen party, as did Holly’s mum Tana Ramsay and close friend Victoria Beckham.

Taking to Instagram, Caroline praised her sister by sharing a quote which read: “The moment you realise: the little sister who once drove you crazy is now the one who keeps you sane.

“Your loudest supporter and forever best friend.”

It continued: “She eventually becomes the comfort zone which every elder sister secretly needed all along.”

Caroline added: “Louise I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being my protector through this difficult time x.

“To the people who are being so cruel to my sister, please stop. Sadly you obviously don’t understand the bond of sisters.

Worried Holly called the police last weekend while Adam was on his stag do in Budapest over concerns he could be assaulted by his brother James when he got back to the UK.

Adam was escorted by five police officers through passport control upon touching down in the UK. His brother was later arrested at his Staffordshire home.

A source close to Adam and Holly said: “This feud is heartbreaking from both sides.

“But the reality is that Adam sees his mum Caroline to be enabling his brother’s actions rather than pushing him to deal with his demons.

“Poor Caroline must feel utterly torn and it’s just very hard for everyone.

“Gordon has been incredibly supportive of Holly and Adam; after all, he’s been through similar issues with his own brother.”

Adam’s father Mark previously told The Sun that the feud had spiralled out of control.

He said: “They’re brothers.

“They’ve always been close but like any normal family, brothers fight, argue, fall out, make-up and start all over again. But it’s got out of hand.

“There’s been very little empathy towards Jamie’s genuine mental health difficulties.”

While Caroline, who supported Adam’s swimming career from a young boy to record breaker, has claimed she wants to repair the rift.

She told the Daily Mail: “I know it’s the end. But please, the message I want Adam to hear is no matter what happens in the future, please know I love you, your dad loves you, you can come home and talk to me at any point.

“There’s nothing you’ve done that I would not forgive. I love you so much.

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“I hope your marriage is a good one, I don’t wish any ill on you and I want you and Holly to have a long and happy marriage, like your dad and me. The reason I’m speaking out is I want all this to end.”

She added that she has reached rock bottom over the family feud, which has seen Adam pull closer to the Ramsays.

Last December, Ravyn Lenae stood in the street and pointed her phone at herself to film a TikTok set to her song “Love Me Not.”

“Me after linking with him one last time cause I’m not bringing him into 2025,” she captioned the video — a cutesy kiss-off to a guy she’d clearly decided was holding her back from where she was meant to go.

Nearly a year later, it appears the singer was right: In early April, “Love Me Not” — a swinging, lightly psychedelic soul number about a hot-and-cold lover — gave Lenae her first entry on Billboard’s Hot 100; a week later, she made her debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. Several months after that, she performed to an enthusiastic crowd at Lollapalooza just before “Love Me Not” peaked at No. 5 in mid-August.

Now, with one of 2025’s biggest hits under her belt, Lenae, 26, is winding down her breakout year by opening for Sabrina Carpenter as Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet tour wraps up this week with six sold-out shows through Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.

“A lot of this period has been me asking other artists, ‘Is this how it normally is?’” Lenae tells me on a recent evening. “How do you balance the social aspect and the online aspect and the touring with also staying highly creative?”

Not to mention tending to a personal life.

“What’s that?” she asks with a laugh. “That’s literally nonexistent.”

The runaway success of “Love Me Not,” which has been streamed more than 700 million times on Spotify, is no doubt what’s put the breathy-voiced Lenae before many listeners for the first time. (A remix featuring Rex Orange County has another 164 million Spotify streams.)

At one point as the song was blowing up, she responded to a fan on TikTok who’d been surprised to learn that Lenae is Black — “Y’all didn’t read the name Ravyn Lenae and think, ‘Oh, that’s a Black girl?’” the singer asks in the clip — then went ahead and clarified that also she’s not British, as some evidently had assumed.

Yet “Love Me Not” actually comes a decade into a career that began while Lenae was still in high school. She signed to Atlantic Records at age 16 and soon was touring and working in the studio with the likes of SZA and Steve Lacy; “Hypnos,” her debut LP, came out in 2022 and made Pitchfork’s closely watched list of the year’s best albums.

“I’m pretty conceited about the fact that I’ve loved Ravyn for as long as I have,” says the singer and actor Reneé Rapp, who like Carpenter took Lenae out on the road this year as an opening act. Rapp discovered one of Lenae’s early EPs when she herself was in high school and has been a fan ever since. “I’m like, ‘You bitches are new, and don’t get me wrong — I’m so happy you’re here. But let’s get it right: I was boots on the ground first.’”

To Rapp’s ears, Lenae’s airy soprano “has this beautiful ping at the top that I’ve only ever heard in Minnie Riperton,” she says. “She’s just like a little fairy. She floats around, and her voice does the same thing.”

“Love Me Not,” which is still hanging out in the upper reaches of the Hot 100, is from Lenae’s sophomore album, “Bird’s Eye,” which came out in August 2024. She recorded the song with the producer Dahi, who’s known for his work with Kendrick Lamar and Vince Staples; Dahi started the track years ago with Anderson .Paak then put it in a drawer before he’d finished it.

“At the time, I was really into MGMT,” Dahi says, referring to the alternative rock duo whose dreamy-jangly guitar sound echoes throughout “Love Me Not.” With Lenae, he pushed the song toward classic R&B — “something that would be played on ‘Happy Days’ or some s—,” he says — but retained a spacey vibe that keeps it from feeling rooted in any specific era or genre.

Lenae says her goal was to create something “soulful and Black but that transcends time and race”; the result can be heard in a lineage of enduring hard-to-classify hits like Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” that charm listeners across demographic lines.

“If you don’t like ‘Crazy,’ there’s something wrong with you,” Lenae says as a pedicurist exfoliates her feet in a West Hollywood hotel room. It’s the end of a long day that began with an early-morning flight from New York, where Lenae performed with Kali Uchis on “The Tonight Show” and at Madison Square Garden. Now, after a photo shoot, she’s changed into gray sweats to sneak in a moment of self-care during our chat.

“With the heels I’m wearing all the time, you can see the corns,” she says, looking down to check out the pedicurist’s progress. “I wonder what Beyoncé’s feet look like. ’Cause if mine look like this? She’s putting in work.”

Though “Love Me Not” was singled out by critics right away, the song really took off late last year after a DJ posted a viral TikTok that mashed it up with Solange’s “Losing You” as part of a series exploring “euphoric” breakup songs. An admiring post on X by SZA — “One of my fav albums this year,” she wrote of “Bird’s Eye” — helped bring more attention to Lenae’s music.

Ravyn Lenae in West Hollywood.

(Ian Spanier / For The Times)

The singer grew up in Chicago, where her mother’s parents landed in the late ’70s as immigrants from Panama. That’s their house on the city’s south side in the music video for “Love Me Not,” which Lenae directed and which shows her and her younger sister dancing just outside the bedroom where Lenae slept as a kid.

“I knew this song would be a lot of people’s introduction to me, so I wanted them to immediately jump into my world,” she says. “My grandparents are very shy people, and when my grandma saw the video, she was like, ‘Oh, Ravyn, baby …’”

Singing at talent shows as a 12-year-old, Lenae wanted to be a “a mix between Alicia Keys and Beyoncé,” as she puts it; later, she learned to perform Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful” and Rihanna’s “Take a Bow.”

“I was like, ‘I’m-a win ’em over with this one,’” she says of the dramatic ballads. “I’m sure I sound crazy on video.”

Lenae, who went on to study at the Chicago High School for the Arts, came to understand that the soft lilt of her voice distinguished her from those powerhouses; she found inspiration in “the sensuality and the femininity” of music by Diana Ross, Patrice Rushen and Janet Jackson, whose “All for You” album — released in 2001, when Lenae was 2 — would become a touchstone.

“There’s a lot to win by not being the loudest in the room,” says Rapp.

Lenae moved to L.A. in 2020. Her first year here was rough, she says — she missed her mom and felt the burden of a bank account with $100 in it. “I remember some crying in the shower,” the singer says now.

Her 2022 song “Skin Tight,” a yearning flirtation she wrote and recorded with Lacy, registered as a turning point; so did the success of Lacy’s quirky soul-rock hit “Bad Habit,” which topped the Hot 100 on its way to Grammy nominations for record and song of the year.

“That was a historical moment for artists like us that have been working at it for a long time — Black artists who’ve always been a little to the left of what was going on,” Lenae says. “Steve going No. 1 showed there really are no rules and that there’s space for all of us.”

Beyond “Love Me Not,” highlights on “Bird’s Eye” include an intimate acoustic number, “From Scratch,” that Lenae says she and Dahi modeled on Lauryn Hill and D’Angelo’s “Nothing Even Matters”; the lush and whispery “Dream Girl,” which features input by Jackson’s longtime collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; and “Bad Idea,” a percussive electro-funk jam that interpolates Bow Wow and Ciara’s early-2000s “Like You.”

“All those Ciara hits, I had the choreo down,” Lenae says.

The album also contains the tender yet mournful “One Wish,” which Lenae wrote about her dad not being around as she was growing up.

“I never, ever thought I’d talk about that publicly, but I think I was just at a point in my life where it felt natural,” she says. “And me and him had just started reconciling, so it was very top of mind.” She invited her father to come to L.A. to appear in the song’s video, which depicts a young girl running after a car as a man angrily drives away; the day after the shoot, they went to Roscoe’s and had a long talk about her childhood.

“Yesterday was his birthday, and I forgot,” she tells me. “I felt horrible, but then I was like, Should I feel horrible? I go back and forth with it all the time.”

Lenae is extremely close with her mother, who’ll sometimes join her on the road “just to spend time with me or hold my hand — to sleep in the same hotel bed,” she says. “That’s the person I know I can keep counting on.”

After this week’s dates with Carpenter, Lenae will head east for a handful of shows on iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball tour — one more chance to build upon “Love Me Not’s” Top 40 breakthrough. Then she and Dahi plan to focus on finishing her next album.

So far, Lenae says, it’s shaping up to be “a little more punchy and explosive” than “Bird’s Eye.” One of the new songs is about her mom; Lenae played it for her when she was here visiting not long ago.

“I had the lyrics up, and as she was reading it, she looked up at me and there was a tear in her eye,” she recalls. “Then we started bawling together. I think that one might end up her favorite.”

Married At First Sight UK has come to an end and a series of bombshell splits have been announced

Married At First Sight UK has reached a dramatic conclusion, leaving viewers curious about which couples are still going strong beyond the cameras.

The hit E4 programme has delivered an absolutely explosive series packed with shocking revelations. From Julia-Ruth’s bombshell about getting matching ink with another groom and texting someone else, to devastating break-ups – this series has truly had everything.

However, only five couples managed to reach the final vows ceremony, with four deciding to continue their romances in the real world.

Now that the latest Married At First Sight UK series has wrapped up, we’ve examined which couples made it to those crucial final vows and who’s still together after filming ended.

This follows a series of surprising separation announcements. So which pairs are actually still loved-up? reports OK!.

Davide and Keye – separated

Fan favourites Davide and Keye breezed through their final vows and took their romance into the real world. Nevertheless, it’s now been revealed that the pair are no longer an item.

The duo confirmed their break up this month after Keye admitted to using dating app Grindr, which a devastated Davide uncovered. In a social media statement, Davide revealed the two were no longer speaking but said he “wished Keye the best”.

Confirming their split, Keye said: “In the early hours of a Sunday morning, while Davide was on a flight, I downloaded Grindr. I want to be clear that I was not looking to cheat, hook up, or find someone else. I was in a dark and fragile place and reached for something unhealthy because I did not know how else to cope.

“What I was seeking had nothing to do with intimacy. It was an attempt to escape emotions I could not sit with, and I reached for substances when what I really needed was support.”

He added: “When Davide found my profile through his, it cost me my marriage. That is something I carry with me every day.”

Leigh and Leah – separated

Viewers will recall the devastating final vows as both Leigh and Leah chose to end their relationship there and then.

Leigh confessed the couple had battled with their communication along with trust issues, whilst Leah spoke about the strain and uncertainty as she revealed she felt she was being put on “trial”.

The pair remain apart, with Leah seemingly dating someone new since leaving the programme whilst Leigh appears to be single at present.

Bailey and Rebecca – separated

Despite keeping a solid relationship going throughout the series and delivering touching final vows, Rebecca and Bailey revealed their break up after filming wrapped.

Rebecca simply posted on Instagram: “To answer all the questions…. Yes, he fumbled.”

Meanwhile, in an extensive statement, Bailey revealed: “Unfortunately it’s time to share that Bec and I are no longer together…

“We tried our best to navigate life after the experiment, and although we spent a lot of great time together on the outside, unfortunately the relationship came to an end. I still have a lot of love for Bec and I’m grateful for the amazing relationship we shared. I had fallen for Bec completely and it really was a true love story.”

He went on to say he accepts responsibility for his role in the relationship breakdown, describing it as “heartbreaking”.

Leisha and Reiss – separated

Leisha and Reiss faced their share of communication struggles during their MAFS UK journey but departed the experiment determined to make their romance work.

Nevertheless, it was subsequently revealed the pair had parted ways.

It seems their communication difficulties persisted beyond the show as Leisha was spotted in floods of tears during an emotional reunion episode.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Leisha penned: “This experience has taught me that my worth is not defined by someone else’s ability to value it. I may have lost him, but in the process, I found me.”

Abi and John – still together

Abi and John remain the sole couple from the series who are still loved-up and going strong.

The duo stayed solid throughout their MAFS UK adventure, despite arriving as latecomers to the experiment. Earlier this week, John took to Instagram to share some news, stating they had an “announcement to make” before confirming that the couple are still going strong.

In a subsequent post, John revealed that they’ve been spending more time in North Wales, with Abi responding to his update: “Best feeling ever is to step into our new lives together! Wales = Home.”

Married At First Sight UK is available to stream on Channel 4 online

SQUEALING on camera last week, TikTok star Yasmin Hadfield couldn’t wait to tell her followers she had a coveted invitation to the opening of the Sephora store in Wales.

After months of controversies followed by a devastating miscarriage, what should have been a happy moment for the influencer mum, 32, quickly turned sour as former fans accused her of faking her involvement with the brand. Here we take a look at what went wrong for Yaz – plus the truth behind THAT controversial invite.

Our insider said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult few months for Yaz – she has battled addiction and had a tragic miscarriage, which she has really struggled to come to terms with.

“That all happened only months after she had overcome not just one but two cheating scandals, which really saw a lot of the internet turn on her.”

The invitation to Sephora opening was a real turning point for her, she felt she was finally being accepted back into the fold of TikTok fame.

But things quickly turned sour, and she was mercilessly mocked when people claimed she had pretended to be invited to the event in Wales. We can reveal she was invited to the opening – but just not by Sephora. 

It’s certainly not been trouble free and at times things have become very murky for the girls.

Insider

Yaz was taken to the event by the marketing team Capsule, who work with a variety of brands, including luxury skincare line Mario Badesco.

She attended alongside her best friend Chloe Birdsall, who has told us what really happened that day.

Chloe explained: “It was so lovely, we got a little lesson about the brand and all the products from their rep, who invited us to the spa in New York which apparently Martha Stewart loves.”

She says the backlash towards Yaz “broke her heart”, adding: “ I think people online got confused by a “collab” and a PR invite? They’re not the same thing. 

“Loads of lovely people got photos with Yaz and it was so lovely after the horrid few years she’s had, seeing her in her element.”

Chloe added: “She would do anything for anyone; she has a heart of gold. We all make mistakes and life tests us but she’s held to a different standard online. It’s horrid to see.”

Yaz lives in Wales and is married to Lee Hadfield – they have a son called Wolf. Eden is married to Lloyd, and they share a son called Sonny. On screen, they had the picture-perfect families. 

Drink and drug addiction

Behind closed doors, something much darker was going on – Yaz was secretly battling drug and alcohol addiction.

Today, she is nine months sober, but at one point, there were fears that addiction could take over her life. Her dad, from Tunbridge Wells, stepped in last Christmas and told her it was time to take action.

Recalling that moment, she explained: “I was just like, right, Yasmin, you literally have one more chance at this beautiful life you and Lee have built. You either take it or you just continue on the path you were on.

“My dad was the only person who could get through to me on Christmas night and he spoke to Lee.”

She credits Lee as helping to ‘put her back together’, and admits she considered wiping her online history – riddled with embarrassment and shame about her dishonesty for all those years.

She said: “I could have so easily removed all the content from the last few years and started from scratch. And not allow people to go back through fishing and trying to look where they can see me a bit bug-eyed or where they can see me looking a bit worse for wear. But I don’t want that. I want to be real.”

She suffered heartache a few months ago when she discovered she had miscarried – leaving her in a state of disbelief and although she shared what was going on with her followers online, Yaz took a real step back.

Yaz and her sisters Eden, 27, and sister Freya are not new to the internet – they’ve been making content for years and have over three million followers between them, but it’s been far from easy.

Shocking claim rocks the family

Our insider said: “Almost straight away, Eden was subjected to backlash and trolling. She was rapidly gaining followers, and while she had millions of fans, there were, of course, some people who picked fault with everything she said or did.

“It’s not been much better for her sisters, and all three of them have come offline at various points to reevaluate their careers.

“Yaz has been painted as a homewrecker, while Eden has dealt with allegations of being a predator. It’s certainly not been trouble-free, and at times things have become very murky for the girls.”

The online barrage was nothing new to Yaz – having been through it all before with her sisters.

Yaz can’t escape Eden’s comments and often feels like she spends a lot of time and energy defending her.

Insider

The first major controversy came when Eden made an off-the-cuff remark about ‘fancying’ a young boy in a play. 

In a video, she said: “The lead was 10 and I fancied him. I’m not ashamed.”

She said she was 18 at the time, and her comment went viral, sparking the first attempt to cancel her for being a ‘predator’. 

Eden later backtracked and apologised, insisting she hadn’t meant what she said. In one of her many apology videos, she said: “To have to say those words is absolutely disgusting. But this is the bed I laid for myself.”

Soon, people picked up on every wrong move she made – and there were a number of instances when she left viewers gobsmacked when she made risky comments in front of kids, which many felt were inappropriate.

Our insider said: “The whole thing caused such a drama and keeps coming back to haunt them both. Yaz can’t escape Eden’s comments and often feels like she spends a lot of time and energy defending her.”

VERY close with her brother-in-law

More recently, wild rumours spread that Yaz was in love with Eden’s husband Lloyd.

Our insider said: “Lots of people think the relationship Yaz has with Lloyd is weird, and they can’t understand how they could be so close.”

She has fueled the speculation, admitting she is indeed obsessed with him.

Yaz told Eden in one video: “I was obsessed with Lloyd. I was honestly obsessed with Lloyd from the second I met him, wasn’t I? 

“I have always loved him. Always will love him. Not having an affair with him, but do have an abnormal obsession with Lloyd.”

Eden became so enraged by the constant comments, she hit out in a fiery video online, but insiders have told us the constant speculation is, in fact welcomed by the girls.

They said: “There is the idea that Eden and Yaz say things they know could get them cancelled because it leads to lots of engagement.  TikTok is their job, so they do need to make money and stay relevant, and this is a great way to get people talking.”

Yaz was caught up in another scandal when an Instagram user accused her of sleeping with her husband while she slept upstairs with their baby.

She fiercely denied the ‘vile’ claims and said she was most upset about being branded a bad mum amid all the drama. 

If anything, Yaz and Eden are hyper-aware when it comes to their children, and despite sharing their lives on camera, Eden will not reveal her little boy’s face.

They are aware of the damage their jobs could cause to their little boys, Yaz previously said: “I think the internet’s got enough damage towards my little boy that he’s going to see one day. It’s all my fault.”

She added: “I’ll be hiding an iPhone from him until he’s 60.”

It’s easy to forget amid all the mess, the good the pair have done – Eden’s videos during the pandemic, where she sat and ate food while chatting to the camera, were lauded, and now Yaz’s sobriety journey has inspired others.

But can they avoid any more drama? Only time will tell – and as they’ve learnt only too well, the internet never forgets. 

Welcome back to another Oscar season!

I’m Matt Brennan, editor in chief of The Envelope, and each Wednesday from now until Jan. 7, I’ll be sending you a (digital) editor’s letter with some highlights from our Phase I issues.

Our first issue of the 2025-2026 campaign features stories on documentaries, films about the Palestinian experience and “Marty Supreme’s” Odessa A’zion.

A Deeper Dive: Documentaries

(Illustration by Daniel Stolle / For The Times)

I won’t pretend to be Nostradamus when it comes to Hollywood’s top awards — my Gold Derby Emmys ballot didn’t even crack the top 1,000 — but most anyone who ran into me at this year’s Sundance Film Festival heard at least one bold prediction that turned out to be correct: 2025 has been a sterling year for documentaries.

With journalists under attack in the U.S., Ukraine, Gaza and beyond, the form’s close connection to reportage has never felt more urgent, at least not to me. In the contraband prison images of “The Alabama Solution,” the body camera footage of “The Perfect Neighbor,” the conflict coverage of “2000 Meters to Andriivka” and “Love + War,” the portraiture of “Cover-Up” and much more besides, the year’s finest documentaries — no, the year’s finest films — manage to unearth new ways of seeing our society’s most pressing issues, often with more precision and subtlety than scripted films much longer (and costlier) in the making.

To that end, this week Steve Dollar asks the filmmakers behind five of the year’s many worthy nonfiction films — “Apocalypse in the Tropics,” “Folktales,” “Predators,” “Seeds” and “The Tale of Silyan” — to share what images became the keystone of their latest projects.

Digital Cover: Odessa A’zion

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

I can confirm Tim Grierson’s reporting that Odessa A’zion is a hugger: I received several myself from the “Marty Supreme” and “I Love L.A.” performer when she stopped by The Times newsroom recently for an Envelope digital cover shoot, her own 16mm still camera in hand.

As Grierson notes of the actor, A’zion “doesn’t behave like a rising star” — and she’s not particularly comfortable with the label, either.

“A’zion has heard those predictions before, so she’s wary about being anointed the next big thing,” he writes. “After all, she remembers all the auditions that went nowhere. She remembers being behind on her rent. She remembers almost being evicted. She remembers getting fired from gigs. Simply being cast in a Josh Safdie film doesn’t make those old wounds disappear. ‘To all of a sudden be like, “OK, I’m done [worrying about my career]!” — I don’t see that feeling coming anytime soon.’”

A trio of Palestinian films in the international feature race

A scene from “All That’s Left of You.”

(Watermelon Pictures)

Palestinian stories are no stranger to awards season. But this year, as Gregory Ellwood writes, a trio of films from female directors — each submitted by a different country and each set in a different time period — make for a particularly remarkable confluence.

“In a way, the movie lived what most Palestinians live: war, exile, fleeing,” “All That’s Left of You” filmmaker Cherien Dabis told Ellwood of her film having to shift production after the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war. “All of the uncertainty, the financial and logistical crisis of it all. I think that what really grounded me during that time was just knowing that the movie was more relevant than ever, and that it had to get done.”

Read more on “All That’s Left of You,” “Palestine 36” and “The Voice of Hind Rajab.”

Additional highlights from our Nov. 20 issue

This Morning star Michelle Elman has revealed that she is set to undergo another brain surgery after a scan showed another cyst on her brain

She has earned herself a legion of fans on the back of her life changing advice as This Morning’s relationship and life coach. But away from the cameras the TV expert has been battling a debilitating condition.

Michelle Elman recently revealed that she is to undergo surgery after a scan showed a new cyst had grown on her brain. The 32 year old star has been dealing with a condition called hydrocephalus.

This condition is caused by fluid building up on the brain creating pressure, that can be fatal if left untreated. Taking to social media, Michelle told her followers that she plans to remove the cyst next year.

On her Instagram story, she penned: “Yesterday I found out I need another brain surgery. I have a cyst in my brain again and also the magnet in my brain needs replacing.”

Currently, Michelle lives with a metal magnet on her brain which doctors inserted to control the flow of fluid to reduce a build up.

Michelle continued: “It’s not urgent but it is needed so now I have to figure out when to schedule this so it disrupts my life as little as possible. Inevitably I will have to pause my life and go deal with this, likelihood it will be next year, but until then it’s business as usual.”

But this is not the first time Michelle has been under the surgeon’s knife. She previously revealed that she has battled a brain tumour, a punctured intestine and obstructed bowels. And on the back of her various conditions, she has undergone 15 surgeries.

The TV personality has not had the best of luck. As she also shared with viewers on This Morning that she was engaged for a mere 24 hours after finding out that her fiancé, who she had been darting for three years, was cheating on her.

Hours after her partner popped the question a woman contacted her to expose her boyfriend’s deceitful behaviour.

Sat on the TV show’s infamous sofa, she revealed: “He was with me when I got the first message saying ‘Is this person your fiance?’ “I thought it was a colleague, like this person knows you, and it took a while to figure out. My first reaction was shock.”

She continued: “I was shaking and I kept saying, ‘Please tell me first I don’t want to find out from her’.”

Last year, she told hosts Ben Shepherd and Cat Deeley :”We met on a dating app, he was my first date after the pandemic. Love of my life, healthiest relationship I had ever had. I was engaged and then a woman reached out and asked if he was my fiancé. I ended up speaking to her for an hour on the phone. He was on a dating app, he was on a business trip and yeah…”

She continued: “I fully back myself. I am emotionally intelligent, smart, intelligent woman. I have every tool in my tool kit to notice red flags. If someone wants to lie to you they will. Wholeheartedly I did not see any red flags. As a red flag the second you go on their phone, the relationship is gone. The trust is gone.’

Unpacking how the revelation unfolded, she went on to say: “Then it was screenshots of the dating profile and his number, I believed her from the get go, but I needed evidence. She told me the hotel, and I said put that in your email, and it came up, then he admitted it. He admitted it and to others as well but I think my reaction was just was ‘you have ruined a good thing, this is supposed to be happiest day of my life’.”

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CYNTHIA Erivo ended up in floods of tears after paying a visit to her old school in South London to watch students perform one of the hit songs from Wicked.

Cynthia, 38, took time out of her busy schedule pre Wicked: For Good hitting cinemas to surprise the lucky students of La Retraite Roman Catholic Girl’s School in Clapham Park, who had no idea she would be paying them a visit.

The star made her dazzling entrance in the best possible way: by quietly sneaking into the room as students one by one noticed she was standing there.

The students looked on in utter disbelief, tinged with obvious excitement, before squealing and jumping for joy.

During the surprise gesture, organised by Greg James and his team at Radio 1, Cynthia sat front row in the audience of an auditorium while a starstruck group of teenage girls sang Wicked’s song For Good.

It was a very emotional moment for Cynthia, who couldn’t help but break down in tears.

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Speaking about the touching performance once the song had wrapped up, Cynthia described how it was “very overwhelming” for her to be back at the school where she herself performed in a number of stage productions.

“I went to this school and left over 20 years ago so to come back and listen to you singing that song is really wonderful.

“Well done everyone, it’s so nice to see you all and be back here.”

As her voice was breaking, Cynthia told the equally emotional students: “I’m just really glad to have heard that. I’m not OK at all!”

The star then took questions from the teenagers, where one fan asked when she knew she wanted to perform for a living.

Cynthia replied: “I knew when I was five-years-old, there was something I just knew about singing, what it felt like to sing, what it felt like to connect and what it felt like to perform which I’ve always loved. That never changed.

“When I was five I was asked to sing Silent Night at the nativity play, I don’t know why they asked me to sing, I was playing a shepherd.

“But something about the way people reacted sparked a bit of joy. And I loved the fact that something I did made people happy.”

After taking more questions Cynthia, who didn’t have a father figure during adulthood, imparted words of encouragement to the group, encouraging them to never diminish the power of dreaming alongside putting in the work.

“I was right where you were, literally.

“I had some really wonderful teachers who helped and guided.

“Don’t be afraid of dreaming of those things and don’t be afraid of the hard work.”

Cynthia is currently finishing off her leg of premieres for Wicked’s eagerly anticipated sequel Wicked: For Good, set to come out in cinemas on Friday.

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Alongside co-lead and pop powerhouse Ariana Grande, she’s walked many red carpets, defended Ari on the Yellow Brick Road from a recent fan attack, and undertaken countless amounts of interviews.

Though the leading ladies have created many unintentional memes during their Wicked days, it’s been a whirlwind of fun, emotion, and amazing talent watching everything unfold.

Hugh Jackman never thought he’d be a karaoke guy. But then Neil Diamond happened.

Starring opposite Kate Hudson in the Christmas Day release “Song Sung Blue,” the 57-year-old Australian actor portrays not the legendary Grammy winner and shaggy-haired sex symbol, but rather a Neil Diamond “interpreter,” the real-life Mike Sardina, who, with his wife and stage partner, Claire (Hudson), found unexpected success with a tribute band in mid-1990s Milwaukee.

It was this film that recently brought the “Greatest Showman” star to Diamond’s Colorado ranch, where the two participated in a singing session that convinced Jackman to buy his own karaoke machine.

The only guide you need for holiday entertainment.

“Normally, I’m like, ‘I don’t want to do that,’” says Jackman, over Zoom from a New York hotel room, as if he’s confessing a mortal sin. “But I did karaoke with Neil, and I’m like, ‘All right, now I’m in.’”

What did they sing? Diamond soloed on “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Misérables,” paying tribute to Jackman’s musical theater bona fides, before the two duetted on Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and, of course, Diamond’s own “Sweet Caroline.” The good times never seemed so good.

It was a hang session so epic that Hudson, joining the call, seems green with an envy that matches her sweater. “I can’t believe I missed this karaoke party,” she says. “I have a whole karaoke setup at my house with a microphone and everything. I feel very left out.”

Thankfully, when it came to making “Song Sung Blue,” it didn’t seem so lonely for her. Based on Greg Kohs’ 2008 documentary of the same name, the film is as much Claire’s tale as it is Mike’s, following the real couple’s love story set to the tune of Diamond’s extensive songbook. At the height of their success, which included playing with Pearl Jam at Eddie Vedder’s request, the Sardinas became local celebrities, billed as the duo “Lightning & Thunder.”

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in the movie “Song Sung Blue.”

(Focus Features)

A Vietnam vet and mechanic with a dream of entertaining, Sardina seems a role tailor-made for Jackman, who can go from Wolverine to Broadway in a single season. “Song Sung Blue” writer-director Craig Brewer, who first saw the documentary at a small film festival in Memphis, Tenn., never envisioned anyone but Jackman as the insatiable Wisconsinite.

“It was always Hugh because there’s not anybody else out there who could understand the wild showmanship that Mike Sardina had,” says Brewer, calling from his Memphis home. “He’s doing two layers of a character. He’s playing this working-class guy that loves to entertain any way he can. If he’s got to wear sequined shirts, he’s going to. He’s going to give you everything he has.”

The role presented a puzzle for Jackman, despite having played career impresarios like pop idol Peter Allen and P.T. Barnum. “I had to lose Hugh Jackman to be Mike,” says the actor, relaxed in an umber-colored button-down shirt. “How does Mike find himself within his love of Neil? It took me a second to find him and lose my shtick, because I’m a performer too.”

Ultimately, the solution wasn’t his Neil Diamond impersonation, though Brewer encouraged Jackman to make a meal of that. “You can lay a little bit more butter on it,” the director remembers telling him.

Instead, Jackman’s breakthrough came via deep self-identification.

“His dream was always huge but this was not how he thought it was going to go,” Jackman says. “It was that ‘one plus one equals three’ thing where, all of a sudden, they found themselves being the next big thing.” Similarly, Jackman never intended to become a movie star synonymous with musical theater. He’d never even sung before a post-university audition changed the course of his life.

“One of the hardest things to do is fake chemistry,” Kate Hudson says. “You can’t do that. You have to actually fall in love with each other and find the chemical connection.”

(Victoria Will / For The Times)

Hudson is a less-obvious casting choice. Though she’s made a career playing rom-com heroines, with “Song Sung Blue,” she’s already generating awards buzz for her turn as a guileless Midwestern mom miles away from the glittering women Hudson typically portrays, and one with her fair share of trauma. She has to go to some dark places, channeling Claire’s depression, addiction to painkillers and more — but despite her penchant for playing more carefree women, Hudson says she wasn’t intimidated by the role’s meatier aspects.

“When you grow up with storytellers,” she says, referencing her actor parents Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, “you forget the camera’s there. You’re not thinking about anything glamorous. You’re looking at the role and what it needs. It’s what you long for as a performer. It allows you to almost leave your body.”

For Hudson, the opportunity also dovetailed with a new act in her own life as a recording artist. Even though she released her debut album “Glorious” only last year, Hudson has long identified as a singer-songwriter. “I was always so scared of it,” she confesses of her fear of going public about her songwriting. “But the studio is where I’m very happy. I’ve been in the studio since I was 19, but I just never shared my music because I was too scared to put it out.”

It was a discovery Jackman made while they were recording their vocal tracks for the film. “I said, ‘You’re a musician,’” he recalls, Hudson beaming at him. “You were so relaxed and in your home.”

“I’ve always had a lot of cheerleaders for me to do music,” Hudson replies, sheepishly.

Some might see it as a full circle moment for Hudson, who received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the groupie Penny Lane in Cameron Crowe’s 2000 rock memoir “Almost Famous.” It was such a formative experience that Hudson still remains close with Crowe. She tells me she’s reading his new book, “The Uncool,” to prepare to interview him on his tour.

But no matter how much Penny Lane has shaped her life, Hudson doesn’t see a through line from her to Claire. Instead, she draws a line between fandom and musicianship, specifically the distinction between those who chase the high of being in the room or backstage living the lifestyle, and those who have a song they have a visceral need to share.

“With Claire, it needs to come out,” she continues. “It doesn’t matter where or what we’re doing or how we’re doing it — we just need to do it. That is also how I feel about music.”

The real-life Claire Sardina and her two children (played by Ella Anderson and Hudson Hensley on-screen) threw their full support behind “Song Sung Blue.” But Hudson’s instinct was to build her own version of Claire without too much outside influence. “You want to make a choice in a film because it’s the right choice for the character, not because you’re trying to mimic something,” says Hudson.

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson in the movie “Song Sung Blue.”

(Focus Features)

That need to avoid mimicry and feel the moment was particularly crucial for the film’s heartbreaking second act, in which Claire is hit by a car in her front yard and loses a leg, plunging into self-loathing, depression, body dysmorphia and addiction. Hudson had to do extensive physical work to prepare to authentically represent Claire’s lived experience. “Movement is a huge part of what actors do,” she says. “There’s the emotional part but the physicality is like rebalancing your brain.”

In addition to watching YouTube videos of amputees and speaking with those in the disabled community, Hudson got useful advice from another screen legend — her dad.

“Kurt said that Claire is like Rocky,” she says, referring to the iconic character’s grit and determination to go the distance. “The part that really got my dad emotional was that she just wanted to figure out how to get on her feet.”

Jackman marvels at the bravery and skill of Hudson’s performance, noting that she even captured something the real Claire told him off-camera.

“Claire said, ‘The thing is Mike was a leg guy,’” he remembers. “Kate played that so well. That feeling of shame about: Is my partner attracted to me anymore? I found that incredibly moving.”

Hudson welcomed the challenge, but she did worry about one thing outside her control. For “Song Sung Blue” to work, the actors playing Claire and Mike need to be in perfect alignment: one the words, the other the tune.

“One of the hardest things to do is fake chemistry,” Hudson says. “You can’t do that. You have to actually fall in love with each other and find the chemical connection. That was my biggest anxiety.”

Jackman shared this concern. “I remember the first day after our table reading, you said, ‘This movie works if we work,’” he reminds her.

They needn’t have worried. “They were a net for each other as the other one was up on a tightrope,” Brewer says. “It was incredibly inspiring for the crew to see that kinship and respect.”

Their mutual generosity is evident in the way Jackman checks in with Hudson after each anecdote during our interview, confirming she has nothing to add or correct. Though this is their first film together, their repartee is so easy and warm it’s hard to believe they haven’t co-starred in at least a dozen movies.

“It felt easy to just inhabit these characters,” Jackman says. “The word that comes to me is trust. All of the scenes, particularly in that darker period, we could just live in that — the frustration, the paranoia, the anger, the loss, the fear. Every take felt really very different. I felt very free.”

Hudson agrees, adding with a giggle, “I told Hugh, ‘I’m really tactile. Just tell me if I make you uncomfortable. I’m going to kiss you all the time.’”

It helps that Hudson and Jackman are naturally sunny, curious people, celebrities who’ve never cared for the sound of being alone. “We like to connect with people,” Hudson says. “There’s no internal process that removes us. We’re both community people. We like to be in the circus. When we’re on set, we sit on set. There’s no separation of crew and cast. It’s very rare that you work with someone who is like that.”

Ultimately, that openness allowed Hudson and Jackman to approach Claire and Mike with honesty, essential for a film that’s a fullhearted paean to dreamers at their highest and lowest.

“Eddie Vedder told me something that moved me so much,” Jackman says, a note of emotion in his voice. “He goes, ‘Some might say these people led small lives. Their dreams were so huge and perhaps, naive. But dreams are so powerful that 30 years later, it’s come true.’”

From playing Milwaukee dive bars to becoming the subjects of a major motion picture, the Sardinas have far exceeded even their own expectations. To quote another beloved Diamond tune, it’s enough to make anyone a believer.

I’m A Celebrity fans have already picked their finalists after just a few days of the ITV competition’s new series, with three stars in the running for King or Queen of the Jungle

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here has only been back on our screens for a few days, however some viewers have already picked their final three contestants – and it’s an unlikely trio. The 2025 series kicked off on Sunday night, with the likes of Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, presenter Alex Scott, comedian Eddie Kadi and TV personality Jack Osbourne entering camp.

The series began with ten stars heading to their new jungle home for the next three weeks, however we’ve set to see two new celebrities head down under this week. TV presenter Vogue Williams and Celebs Go Dating’s Tom Read Wilson are this year’s late entrants.

However, some fans are already predicted which three stars will make it to this year’s final – and many are backing rapper Aitch, comedian Ruby Wax and YouTuber star Angry Ginge – real name Morgan Burtwistle. Taking to X, one fan wrote alongside a picture of the three: “If this ain’t the final 3, I don’t want it #ImACeleb.”

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Another replied: “Great jungle trio.” A third person wrote: “Final 3 are 1. Ruby 2. Aitch 3. Ginge #ImACeleb.” A fourth tweeted: “Aitch is the cutest!! I truly hope he gets to the final!! #ImACeleb.”

“Just want Aitch and Ginge in the Final, that’s all I care about #ImACeleb,” another said. A sixth wrote: “Love watching Ruby Wax since ‘Girls On Top’ in the 80’s. She needs to be kept in that camp until the final. #ImACeleb.”

While others were impressed with Aitch’s performance in last night’s Bushtucker Trial, which saw him win 10 stars for camp. “Definitely voting for Aitch to win #ImACeleb fellow manc he bossed that bush tucker trial. I think it will be out of him and Kelly Brook in the final,” one fan said.

Another wrote: “I’m not even familiar with Ginge or Aitch because I’m too old, but they have the potential to go all the way to the final i think! Great attitudes. #ImACeleb.”

It comes after some fans were calling for Ruby to be kicked off the show after some viewers considered her introductory conversation with Angry Ginge to be rude. When asked by Alex Scott what they should call him when the group arrived on the show, Angry Ginge said: “Ginge or Morgan.” Ruby replied: “We’ll never call you that.”

When asked what his surname is, Angry Ginge said: “Burtwistle,” with Ruby quipping: “Oh, I see why you changed it. It’s so not cool.” She later asked him to “get out of [her] way” in front of the cameras, joking: “Don’t ever in this show get in my way. Do you understand?

“Especially when there’s a light. You’re in my light again. I’ll just be moving you throughout the show, okay?”

However, the pair seem to have grown close on the show, having taken part in the very first Bushtucker Trial in Monday night’s episode. Ruby even said that she knew Ginge would have her back in the challenge.

I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here continues tonight at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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